LAHORE: The Punjab University is planning to establish a medical college in Lahore to provide world-class medical education as well as quality research facilities to medicine students.

An office of the Punjab University Medical College (PUMC) project was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Al-Razi Hall, where Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani, PU Vice-Chancellor Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir, Academic Staff Association President Javed Sami, faculty members and students were also present.

In his address, Gillani said the provision of high-quality education was a priority of the government and several steps have been taken to promote the culture of research and innovation. “Establishment of the medical college is an important priority as it will provide quality education to students,” he added.

The minister said the government wanted to take at least five public-sector universities, including the Punjab University, among the top 500 universities of the world.

“Faculty development programme has been launched so that teachers can grasp the latest educational ideas and transform their students into the best professionals,” he said, requesting the teachers to especially focus on academically weak students and help build their personalities.

Gillani said universities were the greatest asset against poverty and ignorance. “Varsities are the innovation accelerators that infuse new ideas and vision among students,” he said.